Reposted by Merel Zoet
Bellingcat’s work in 2025 verified war crimes, exposed deepfake abuse, and challenged disinformation. We want to uncover wrongdoing. We can with your support: www.bellingcat.com/donate
This is how we cut through the digital noise to tell stories that matter.
This is how we cut through the digital noise to tell stories that matter.
December 22, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Bellingcat’s work in 2025 verified war crimes, exposed deepfake abuse, and challenged disinformation. We want to uncover wrongdoing. We can with your support: www.bellingcat.com/donate
This is how we cut through the digital noise to tell stories that matter.
This is how we cut through the digital noise to tell stories that matter.
Reposted by Merel Zoet
New from Bellingcat, PBS Frontline, Evident and the Washington Post - Investigating the Impact of US-Israeli Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Programme www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
Investigating the Impact of US-Israeli Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Programme - bellingcat
Bellingcat, FRONTLINE (PBS), The Washington Post and Evident Media examine the impact of strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme.
www.bellingcat.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:25 AM
New from Bellingcat, PBS Frontline, Evident and the Washington Post - Investigating the Impact of US-Israeli Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Programme www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
A joint investigation by Bellingcat and Lloyd’s List shows that Saudi Arabia is the newest country willing to accept what the Ukrainian government describes as “stolen” grain. youtube.com/shorts/5FUm6...
Who's buying Russia's smuggled grain?
YouTube video by Bellingcat
youtube.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:58 PM
A joint investigation by Bellingcat and Lloyd’s List shows that Saudi Arabia is the newest country willing to accept what the Ukrainian government describes as “stolen” grain. youtube.com/shorts/5FUm6...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
On Friday, the UK sanctioned Rapid Support Forces commander Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, also known as Abu Lulu. Bellingcat previously geolocated him in three videos filmed at the site of a mass killing near Al Fashir, Sudan.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Geolocating Darfur Killings of Those Escaping Al Fashir - bellingcat
Warning: Contains written descriptions of extreme violence including murder. All graphic footage has been omitted. A Bellingcat investigation has identified and verified the exact location of a mass k...
www.bellingcat.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:30 AM
On Friday, the UK sanctioned Rapid Support Forces commander Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, also known as Abu Lulu. Bellingcat previously geolocated him in three videos filmed at the site of a mass killing near Al Fashir, Sudan.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
I'll be honest. There are a lot of awful things that are happening in the world.
But I can sleep at night knowing that I work at a place that tries to make sure we do our part to make sure those wrongs don't go unnoticed.
All I need to do is look at our homepage and know I'm in the right place.
But I can sleep at night knowing that I work at a place that tries to make sure we do our part to make sure those wrongs don't go unnoticed.
All I need to do is look at our homepage and know I'm in the right place.
December 3, 2025 at 11:46 PM
I'll be honest. There are a lot of awful things that are happening in the world.
But I can sleep at night knowing that I work at a place that tries to make sure we do our part to make sure those wrongs don't go unnoticed.
All I need to do is look at our homepage and know I'm in the right place.
But I can sleep at night knowing that I work at a place that tries to make sure we do our part to make sure those wrongs don't go unnoticed.
All I need to do is look at our homepage and know I'm in the right place.
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Who is this mystery man?
Our monthly open source challenges just got an upgrade... With hidden codes - a corrupted archive and a mysterious figure pulling the strings. Get started at challenge.bellingcat.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Who is this mystery man?
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Bellingcat has pieced together a detailed view of a crisis that has left much of Mali in the dark. Learn how the attacks behind the fuel shortages brought daily life to a halt here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
December 4, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Bellingcat has pieced together a detailed view of a crisis that has left much of Mali in the dark. Learn how the attacks behind the fuel shortages brought daily life to a halt here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
Read our latest analysis of a mass killing near Al Fashir, Sudan. Open source evidence that we reviewed showed that more than 80 people attempting to flee Al Fashir were killed near a berm that the RSF built around the city. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
November 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Read our latest analysis of a mass killing near Al Fashir, Sudan. Open source evidence that we reviewed showed that more than 80 people attempting to flee Al Fashir were killed near a berm that the RSF built around the city. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Social media footage and satellite imagery show killings as Rapid Support Forces took over Al Fashir (El Fasher). Bellingcat geolocated one incident on the city’s outskirts and showed it to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Geolocating Darfur Killings of Those Escaping Al Fashir - bellingcat
Warning: Contains written descriptions of extreme violence including murder. All graphic footage has been omitted. A Bellingcat investigation has identified and verified the exact location of a mass k...
www.bellingcat.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Social media footage and satellite imagery show killings as Rapid Support Forces took over Al Fashir (El Fasher). Bellingcat geolocated one incident on the city’s outskirts and showed it to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Children tear-gassed. Teenagers tackled to the ground. Bellingcat analysed footage of clashes between federal officers and civilians after a judge issued a restraining order on crowd-control tactics in Illinois: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Tear Gas, Pepper Balls Among Weapons Deployed Against Illinois Protesters
A judge issued a restraining order on crowd-control tactics by federal agents, including those involved in Operation Midway Blitz in the Chicago region.
www.bellingcat.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Children tear-gassed. Teenagers tackled to the ground. Bellingcat analysed footage of clashes between federal officers and civilians after a judge issued a restraining order on crowd-control tactics in Illinois: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Bellingcat has geolocated footage of a mass killing outside the recently captured Sudanese city of El Fasher. In the video, which has circulated widely online, RSF commander Abu Lulu can be seen firing his weapon at what appears to be ten unarmed men sitting on the ground. Image: @vantortech
October 31, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Bellingcat has geolocated footage of a mass killing outside the recently captured Sudanese city of El Fasher. In the video, which has circulated widely online, RSF commander Abu Lulu can be seen firing his weapon at what appears to be ten unarmed men sitting on the ground. Image: @vantortech
Reposted by Merel Zoet
I went to the opening of this exhibition last week
It features a cool Bellingcat display, showing the work we (primarily Ollie Ballinger @yoruk.bsky.social, Bridget Diakun @godin.bsky.social & Youri van der Weide) produced to track Russian ships surreptitiously exporting grain from occupied Crimea
It features a cool Bellingcat display, showing the work we (primarily Ollie Ballinger @yoruk.bsky.social, Bridget Diakun @godin.bsky.social & Youri van der Weide) produced to track Russian ships surreptitiously exporting grain from occupied Crimea
Secret Maps opens today! 🤫 🗺️
From medieval manuscripts to Cold War espionage, our new exhibition explores how maps have hidden as much as they revealed for over 600 years.
Book now: bit.ly/BLSecretMaps
From medieval manuscripts to Cold War espionage, our new exhibition explores how maps have hidden as much as they revealed for over 600 years.
Book now: bit.ly/BLSecretMaps
October 25, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I went to the opening of this exhibition last week
It features a cool Bellingcat display, showing the work we (primarily Ollie Ballinger @yoruk.bsky.social, Bridget Diakun @godin.bsky.social & Youri van der Weide) produced to track Russian ships surreptitiously exporting grain from occupied Crimea
It features a cool Bellingcat display, showing the work we (primarily Ollie Ballinger @yoruk.bsky.social, Bridget Diakun @godin.bsky.social & Youri van der Weide) produced to track Russian ships surreptitiously exporting grain from occupied Crimea
Reposted by Merel Zoet
We identified another Russian vessel that disabled its location data while smuggling grain from occupied Ukraine to Yemen. Learn how we used photographs, satellite imagery, and ship-tracking data, to uncover its covert voyage. www.youtube.com/shorts/OrTUa...
Going Dark:What Is This Russian Ship Hiding?
YouTube video by Bellingcat
www.youtube.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:55 AM
We identified another Russian vessel that disabled its location data while smuggling grain from occupied Ukraine to Yemen. Learn how we used photographs, satellite imagery, and ship-tracking data, to uncover its covert voyage. www.youtube.com/shorts/OrTUa...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Another Russian ship has been added to the grain smuggling fleet, captured on camera and on satellite imagery, evading sanctions to deliver grain from occupied Crimea to Houthi-controlled Yemen. Follow its covert journey here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Russia’s Grain Smuggling Fleet Continues Undeterred - bellingcat
Bellingcat has identified yet another Russian-flagged vessel exporting grain from occupied Crimea to Houthi-controlled Yemen.
www.bellingcat.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Another Russian ship has been added to the grain smuggling fleet, captured on camera and on satellite imagery, evading sanctions to deliver grain from occupied Crimea to Houthi-controlled Yemen. Follow its covert journey here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Was super honored to have 3 of my write-ups for September challenges being featured in the newsletter.
It was a lot of fun writing them, but also quite a lot of extra work and it was a very pleasant feeling to be appreciated. Thanks to the Bellingcat community managers for their amazing work.
It was a lot of fun writing them, but also quite a lot of extra work and it was a very pleasant feeling to be appreciated. Thanks to the Bellingcat community managers for their amazing work.
Want to stay up-to-date with the challenges? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter. Here we’ll also share the answers of last month’s challenges, thanks to everyone who submitted a blog, write-up or shared their methods in our Discord.
bellingcat-challenges.beehiiv.com/p/oceans-of-...
bellingcat-challenges.beehiiv.com/p/oceans-of-...
Oceans of Evidence
Ready to track some ships? This month we're covering ship tracking in the Bellingcat Open Source Challenge.
bellingcat-challenges.beehiiv.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Was super honored to have 3 of my write-ups for September challenges being featured in the newsletter.
It was a lot of fun writing them, but also quite a lot of extra work and it was a very pleasant feeling to be appreciated. Thanks to the Bellingcat community managers for their amazing work.
It was a lot of fun writing them, but also quite a lot of extra work and it was a very pleasant feeling to be appreciated. Thanks to the Bellingcat community managers for their amazing work.
Reposted by Merel Zoet
NEW: Since October 2023, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit has released dozens of 3D animations illustrating alleged Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian sites
The style is now unmistakable: satellite zoom-ins, black & white wireframes, and red-textured houses - a new visual language of war
The style is now unmistakable: satellite zoom-ins, black & white wireframes, and red-textured houses - a new visual language of war
October 8, 2025 at 4:58 PM
NEW: Since October 2023, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit has released dozens of 3D animations illustrating alleged Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian sites
The style is now unmistakable: satellite zoom-ins, black & white wireframes, and red-textured houses - a new visual language of war
The style is now unmistakable: satellite zoom-ins, black & white wireframes, and red-textured houses - a new visual language of war
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Satellite analysis by Bellingcat found that wildfires destroyed over a third of Namibia’s most visited wildlife reserve last month, impacting crucial grazing lands for endangered species, including black rhinos and elephants. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Wildfires Ravage One of Africa’s Largest Nature Reserves - bellingcat
Satellite analysis of the Etosha wildfires in Namibia has found that more than a third of the nature reserve was burned.
www.bellingcat.com
October 7, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Satellite analysis by Bellingcat found that wildfires destroyed over a third of Namibia’s most visited wildlife reserve last month, impacting crucial grazing lands for endangered species, including black rhinos and elephants. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Can LLMs identify where a photo was taken? And how accurate are they? We put some AI models to the test...
www.youtube.com/shorts/tUBm4...
www.youtube.com/shorts/tUBm4...
Can ChatGPT Find Out Where Your Photo Was Taken?
YouTube video by Bellingcat
www.youtube.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Can LLMs identify where a photo was taken? And how accurate are they? We put some AI models to the test...
www.youtube.com/shorts/tUBm4...
www.youtube.com/shorts/tUBm4...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
What struck the Gaza Aid Flotilla? After we published the story, the Tunisian Ministry of Interior issued a statement describing the incident “that took place yesterday” as a “premeditated attack” stating that an investigation had been launched.”
September 11, 2025 at 7:55 AM
What struck the Gaza Aid Flotilla? After we published the story, the Tunisian Ministry of Interior issued a statement describing the incident “that took place yesterday” as a “premeditated attack” stating that an investigation had been launched.”
Reposted by Merel Zoet
The largest aid flotilla in history has been attacked twice in two days whilst in port in Tunisia. Open source analysis suggests an incendiary munition is to blame, contradicting official statements. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/09...
Incendiary Munitions Strike Gaza-bound Flotilla Two Nights in a Row - bellingcat
On September 8 and 9, two vessels of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) were attacked outside the port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia. Bellingcat analysed footage and images from both incidents. ...
www.bellingcat.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The largest aid flotilla in history has been attacked twice in two days whilst in port in Tunisia. Open source analysis suggests an incendiary munition is to blame, contradicting official statements. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/09...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
How are you getting on with the latest set of challenges? If you’re stuck, make sure to join our livestream on Wednesday at 5PM CEST. Bellingcat’s @poojachaudhuri.bsky.social might be able to help you further… www.youtube.com/live/5pBNFIc...
September 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
How are you getting on with the latest set of challenges? If you’re stuck, make sure to join our livestream on Wednesday at 5PM CEST. Bellingcat’s @poojachaudhuri.bsky.social might be able to help you further… www.youtube.com/live/5pBNFIc...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
It's go time! Every month, @merelzoet.bsky.social and I bring together five open source research challenges!
👉 challenge.bellingcat.com 👈
After several specialist themed challenges, we're back to our roots with traditional geolocations.
Can you track down our holiday snaps? 📸🏝️
👉 challenge.bellingcat.com 👈
After several specialist themed challenges, we're back to our roots with traditional geolocations.
Can you track down our holiday snaps? 📸🏝️
September 2, 2025 at 2:22 PM
It's go time! Every month, @merelzoet.bsky.social and I bring together five open source research challenges!
👉 challenge.bellingcat.com 👈
After several specialist themed challenges, we're back to our roots with traditional geolocations.
Can you track down our holiday snaps? 📸🏝️
👉 challenge.bellingcat.com 👈
After several specialist themed challenges, we're back to our roots with traditional geolocations.
Can you track down our holiday snaps? 📸🏝️
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Academic or student in the USA? Our research techniques can be useful in assessing fake news. We're helping students to investigate and better understand the anti-democratic online ideologies that threaten their communities with two free webinars on digital investigation skills this September 🧵
August 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Academic or student in the USA? Our research techniques can be useful in assessing fake news. We're helping students to investigate and better understand the anti-democratic online ideologies that threaten their communities with two free webinars on digital investigation skills this September 🧵
Reposted by Merel Zoet
More than 40 people have been confirmed dead, and 80,000 residents have been evacuated across Beijing due to widespread flooding. Bellingcat used public sources to begin to track the damage. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/08...
What Can Open Sources Reveal About Beijing’s Deadly Floods? - bellingcat
After days of torrential rain and more than 40 people confirmed dead, what can open sources tell us about the damage in China's capital?
www.bellingcat.com
August 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM
More than 40 people have been confirmed dead, and 80,000 residents have been evacuated across Beijing due to widespread flooding. Bellingcat used public sources to begin to track the damage. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/08...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Pleased to have our latest piece in collaboration with @nikkei.com finally out. Thanks to @beaudonelly.bsky.social @conplnk.bsky.social and @merelzoet.bsky.social
Bellingcat, in collaboration with @nikkei.com, uncovered a Chinese fentanyl smuggling network’s operations in Japan. Read our full investigation here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/08...
A Chinese Fentanyl Smuggling Network’s Footprints in Japan - bellingcat
Bellingcat, in collaboration with the Japanese newspaper Nikkei, uncovered a Chinese fentanyl smuggling network's operations in Japan.
www.bellingcat.com
August 7, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Pleased to have our latest piece in collaboration with @nikkei.com finally out. Thanks to @beaudonelly.bsky.social @conplnk.bsky.social and @merelzoet.bsky.social